“Whine to the music” is the art of pairing grooves with music, such as Rodriguez Sugar Man with 2003 Kamen Sonoma Cabernet.  We have been drinking wine with music since the dawn of wine.  I don’t think music would have evolved without wine.  Most people tend to turn up the music when they drink wine.  Whine to the Music is not just sitting back, drinking wine and getting teary eyed.  It is a concept like ART and Wine Pairing, where we dissect the structures of the wine and the work to its basic elements.  The structural elements eventually create an emotion in us.  Whine to the Music is the art of pairing wine with music based on the emotion they evoke in us.

<<HOW TO WHINE TO THE MUSIC>>

If you have not seen the documentary, “Searching for Sugar man”, you have to go to a red box and rent it.  And while you are there, look for the closest boutique wine shop and buy a bottle of 2003 Kamen Sonoma Cabernet.  The movie was moving, but why did it work with this particular wine?  At first I just wanted to drink some wine while watching the movie, but as the wine opened up and I listened to the music, I realized that the two paired very well.  Here is why:

Aromas/Flavors:  I compare the wine’s aromas and flavors with the music’s tone. The Kamen Cabernet has a bit of age on it which began to show leathery aromas, dried fruit flavors and darker spiced notes.  If it was younger it might not pair as well, since a younger wine probably works best with livelier music. The bottle aged aromas and flavors set a perfect pairing for the somber poetic tone of Rodriguez Sugar Man.

Alcohol/Body:  The alcohol or body of the wine can be paired with the type of instruments used in a song.  Where a song which has harps and triangles works with light bodied wines, songs with a lot of bass work with full-bodied wines.  Although this wine in its youth had more body, the alcohol has worn off and pairs better with stringed instruments.

Tannin:  I relate tannin to the vocals, are they tannic equaling raspy deep vocals or are they light of tannin equaling a soft melodic voice.  Rodriguez’s voice has tension like Bob Dylan, but also soothing.  The Kamen Cabernet in its youth had pronounced tannin from the mountain fruit, but now those tannins have softened up.  They are still very present, but they are there to give balance and structure, with a bit of tension.

Acidty:  I compare acidity to the music’s complexity.  How much is going on in the music?  Rodriguez’s songs are poetic, with basic guitar, a violin, percussion and bass.  They are not super complex.  However, thematically the poetry is what brings complexity to the music.  The Kamen Cab has long-lasting acidity.  Even with age the acidity is still alive.  It is not razor acidity like cool climate Pinot Noir, but it has enough to bring longevity to the wine ‘s life.  Just like Rodriguez’s music, it will continue because of its poetic complexity and “acidity”.

Finish:  I compare the wine’s finish to the hook or chorus.  Is it catchy, is it memorable and does it stay with you.  What I most enjoyed about the Kamen Cabernet was that it lasted forever.  I was able to enjoy the wine by drinking it slowly because each sip lasted a long time.  Just like the song’s chorus,

“Silver magic ships, you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane
Sugar man”

it stayed with me for a very long time.  I highly recommend go see this movie and get a bottle of Kamen Cab.  If you can’t find a 2003 Kamen Cab, don’t worry, buy an aged Sonoma Cab and see if it works.  Happy pairing!

“Whine to the music” is the art of pairing grooves, such as Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” with Malbec.  We have been drinking wine with music since the dawn of wine.  I don’t think music would have evolved without wine.  Most people tend to turn up the music when they drink wine.  Whine to the Music is not just sitting back, drinking wine and getting teary eyed.  It is a concept like ART and Wine Pairing, where we dissect the structures of the wine and the work to its basic elements.  The structural elements eventually create an emotion in us.  Whine to the Music is the art of pairing wine with music based on the emotion they evoke in us.

<<HOW TO WHINE TO THE MUSIC>>

What a classic song!  No matter where in the world you are, someone, somewhere with a guitar will be playing this powerful song.  This song’s power comes from the emotion that it evokes.  This version of the song does not have a bass line to give it backbone, it is acoustic and song with the heart that only Bob Marley can sing.  Bob breaks it up with a “Reggae Beat Box” before singing the last chorus.  This only gives what is a simple song, more rhythmic complexity.  Bob finishes what he normally sings acoustically with the beat of bongos giving it more emotion and heart.

How can we pair such a classic?  Is there a wine really worthy of such greatness?  Grand Cru Burgundy is beautiful, but does not posses heart.  1st growth Bordeaux is complex but too pretentious for a song that is simple and about the common man breaking away from slavery.  So what then?

The other day, my good friend, Christopher Lavine of Broadbent Imports sent me a bottle of 1977 Weinert Malbec.  It clicked!  Yes this wine is Bordeaux in style and far away from the young ripe, oaky Malbecs Americans have come to love.  This wine has finesse, soft structured tannins and smokey tricerary aromas that get tied in with a slight oaky coconut.  A wine far away from home, Bordeaux.  Made in the New World by the Weinert family whose heart was in Bordeaux when they assembled this delicious wine.

Like “Redemption Song”, this wine has lasted the test of time and has proven to be age-worthy.  The wine is elegant and the fruit lush which pairs with Bob’s soothing voice.  The acidity is well-balanced and the oak treatment gives it just the right amount of structure.  Those leathery and toasty flavors in the finish match with the beat of the bongos as the song comes to an end.  After drinking and listening we are left with a sense of hope, a return to our ideals and the greatest satisfaction.  Many members of the Wine Spectator forum call this the Best Malbec Ever!

 

“Whine to the music” is the art of pairing good grooves, such as Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock “It takes two” with wine.  We have been drinking wine with music since the dawn of wine. I don’t think music would have evolved without wine. Most people tend to turn up the music when they drink wine. Whine to the Music is not just sitting back, drinking wine and getting teary eyed. It is a concept like ART and Wine Pairing, where we dissect the structures of the wine and the work to its basic elements. The structural elements eventually create an emotion in us. Whine to the Music is the art of pairing wine with music based on the emotion they evoke in us.

 

<<HOW TO WHINE TO THE MUSIC>>

I have been trying to pair old school hip hop with wine for quite a while.  Old School Hip Hop has a lot bass, but what is difficult to pair is all the different samples the artists use.  My intuition is to look for a wine with plenty of oak which matches with the bass, but oaky wines can be “one note” wines.  They do not match with the samples and break beats of hip hop.  Then last night one of my wine captains brought his family in for dinner.  With him he brought a bottle of Orin Swift’s D66.  Ah I finally found it!

When I tasted the D66, a Grenache from the up and coming region Cote du Catalan in France, I started hearing the music of Afrika Bambaataa, Grand Master Flash and Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock.  This was it!  The Grenache had a deep purple color with intense concentration.  Although there was a whiff of alcohol, the wine had aromas and flavors of black cherries, chocolate and violets.  There was also this burst of red fruit that would fade in and out on the palate.  This fading in and out of flavors matched the hook of the song with the whistle “Whoo-Yaa” and back to the bass line.  In the finish the oak tasted like sweet coconut and mocha.  Perfect to pair with the catchy bass line!  The D66, like this song, will stand the test of time.  To this day, “it takes two” makes me want to dance.  20 years from now, this wine will still be in an amazing place.

Whine to the Music is the art of pairing wine and music.  In the same way I approach ART & WINE PAIRING, I will tackle wine and music.  I’ll look at the structure of the wine and pair it to the elements of the music.  Take a sip of your wine.. do you feel anything?  Watch a music video…do you feel anything?  Whine to the Music is pairing wine and music based on emotion.  How does one begin to approach such an obscure concept?  Below you will see the basic structural elements of wine and how they pertain to music.

<<HOW TO WHINE TO THE MUSIC>>

Elis Regina “Como Nosso Pias”  paired with Lidio Carraro “Quorum”

Elis Regina – Como Nossos Pais

Elis Regina is one of the greatest and most inspirational singers of South America.  Brazilian born, she gained notoriety throughout South America in the ’70′s for her magnificent voice and FU attitude.   You might not understand the lyrics to this song, but you can definitely see the emotion and conviction when she sings.

I chose to pair this iconic song with Lidio Carraro’s “Quorum”, a Bordeaux blend from Serra Gaucha.  I figure I’d approach this like I would a food and wine pairing, pair the wine with the food of that region.  The Quorum is bold of color with med to full body.  It has good fruit but what stands out is the minerality.  It is something that is so unique to Brazil, a wet stone, mid palate delight.

The song starts off slow and progresses in intensity.  By the 3 minute mark you might be in tears from the shear heart in her voice.  Like the Quorum, at first it is black fruit, some earthy tones and floral characters.  But as the wine stays with you the finish is long and the acidity is mouth-watering.  The wine’s minerality is its strongest suit and pairs excellently with the song’s theme, Elis looking back at her parents.  Lidio Carraro is now being distributed by Wine Bow in the US and is available at Island Prime and C-Level.

“Whine to the music” is the art of pairing good grooves, such as LCD Soundsystem “Dance Yourself Clean” with wine. We have been drinking wine with music since the dawn of wine. I don’t think music would have evolved without wine. Most people tend to turn up the music when they drink wine. Whine to the Music is not just sitting back, drinking wine and getting teary eyed. It is a concept like ART and Wine Pairing, where we dissect the structures of the wine and the work to its basic elements. The structural elements eventually create an emotion in us. Whine to the Music is the art of pairing wine with music based on the emotion they evoke in us.
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Emotion is a direct result of our environment. The sounds, the sights, the feelings and how we interact in that space creates our environment. Wine is full of emotion. It makes us tipsy, loose and lets our guard down changing our interactions with our environment. Drink enough and we lose our inhibitions. Take in the aromas, savor the flavors, and concentrate on the finish. The wine will open up and effect your emotions.
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<<<LEARN HOW TO “WhINE TO THE MUSIC” HERE>>>

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Today I pair LCD Soundsystem “Dance Yourself Clean” with a Chenin Blanc, Nicolas Joly “les Clos Sacres” Savennières.

I love this song! Every time I hear it, I want to dance.  In fact, it is the ring tone I use for when my wife calls me.  What makes this song so great?  I am a sucker for songs that start mellow and build up to a complete rock out.  This song has synthesizers, drum kits and the singer sings from a 50′s style 3D Model of 55SH microphone giving the voice a can like sound. The music is lively and bright.

The color of Chenin Blanc is bright and clear which matches with the liveliness of this song.  The grape is not super aromatic, but it does show white pitted fruits and honeysuckle.  Since it does not jump out in the glass it is a perfect match for how this song begins, quite, chill and repetitive.  Then you hit the 3 minute mark in the song, and BOOM!  The song explodes and the Muppets rock out!  The Nicolas Joly Savennières “le CLos Sacre” from the Loire starts off with subdued aromas.  Once you taste it the wine explodes with lively fruit flavors, citrus and intense acidity.  The wine is biodynamic.  Joly really pushes the acidity, however the rich honey, spice tones and floral character makes this wine super complex.  The song is long but in no way boring.  This Chenin blanc is a perfect pairing with the divine sounds of LCD Soundsystem!